Marilyn Monroe made the template icons now follow (with video)

Movie Talk

Meriah DotyAugust 1, 2012

(Photo: 20th Century Fox/Getty Images)

We all know Marilyn Monroe built the mold pop culture icons -- and their wannabes -- now follow. Somewhat troubling to film buffs, Monroe's still image seems more ubiquitous than the job she was actually famous for -- film performance. In honor of the 50th anniversary of Ms. Monroe's death, Yahoo! Movies has gathered a select slate of Monroe film footage for your viewing pleasure.

Britney Spears was not the first star to sport body hugging, nude costumes -- a look Jennifer Lopez later mimicked. As you can see in the above clip, Monroe was wearing the look way back in 1952 in the comedy "Monkey Business."

'Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend' Everyone remembers when Madonna emulated this famous Marilyn moment in her "Material Girl" video. Madonna is quoted to have said, "I'd love to be a memorable figure in the history of entertainment in some sexual, comic, tragic way. I'd like to leave the impression that Marilyn Monroe did."

'The Seven Year Itch' Clip: Delicious While this is an iconic scene that had men wishing they were a sidewalk air shaft, it seems to have remained indelibly Marylin. It's been spoofed and mimicked over the years, a memorable iconicopy does not, however, come to mind.